The 1951 New York Giants won the NL Pennant despite losing 11 in a row during the regular season.
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It’s only June and Cleveland Indians fans are already talking to themselves with such familiar refrains as” ``Haven’t we seen this movie before?”
After beginning the season with a renewed sense of hope, a new experienced manager with two World Series rings (in Terry Francona) and plenty of promise and budding talent-in the blink of an eye- Cleveland baseball fans have been dealt an unexpected setback , having seen their beloved Tribe drop eight in a row. The Indians have now lost 14 of their last 18 games after Monday’s 6-3 loss to Texas in the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Despite the threatening skies high above as if Tropical Storm Andrea is about to dump heavy rains over Northeast Ohio, Cleveland fans shouldn’t despair. Turns out, there’s plenty to be optimistic about.
According to Stats Inc., World Series winners experienced at least one losing streak of seven or more games during the regular season, most recently the 2011 Cardinals.
The 2006 Cardinals had three losing streaks of seven or more games, while the longest losing streak by a World Series winner was nine games by the 1953 Yankees.
In addition, 21 pennant winners had at least one losing streak of seven or more games during the regular season; the longest was 11 games by the 1951 Giants.
So don’t despair Tribe fans, ``Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.’’
As the legendary Casey Stengel once said after his 62' Mets finally managed to nail down their first win of the season on April 23rd, (after losing their first nine ) ``We sure was on a long nap.''
Bill Lucey
June 10, 2013
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